The Upper Mississippi River Basin Association (UMRBA)
was formed in 1981 as a successor to the former federally authorized
Upper Mississippi River Basin Commission.When that Commission was terminated by a Presidential Executive
Order in 1981, the Governors of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, and
Wisconsin signed a joint resolution calling for “the continuation of
an interstate organization to maintain communication and cooperation
among the states on matters related to water planning and management.”

The five member states of the UMRBA are represented
by gubernatorial appointees.Generally,
the Governor’s designee is from a state agency with substantial
responsibilities for water resource management.This person is responsible for coordinating with other state
agencies and providing for their direct involvement when necessary.The Governor may appoint alternate representatives from a variety
of state agencies to facilitate internal state coordination and assure
that a broad range of state authorities and perspectives are considered
in the deliberations of the Association.

Six federal agencies also participate in the UMRBA
as advisory members including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers,
Department of Agriculture (Natural Resources Conservation Service),
Department of Homeland Security (Coast Guard and Federal Emergency
Management Agency), Department of the Interior (Fish and Wildlife Service
and Geological
Survey), Department of Transportation (Maritime
Administration), and Environmental Protection Agency.

Although the federal
members are non-voting, they are valuable and active participants in
many of the UMRBA’s activities and meetings.With their participation, the UMRBA is able to serve as a
regional forum for the states and their federal agency counterparts to
discuss major policy and management issues.However, it is important to emphasize that the federal agencies
are not official members of the organization, which speaks on behalf of
the states alone.

The purpose of the Upper
Mississippi River Basin Association is to facilitate dialogue and
cooperative action regarding water and related land resource issues.More specifically, UMRBA aims to:

·Serve as a regional interstate forum for the discussion,
study, and evaluation of river-related issues of common concern to the
states of the Upper Mississippi River Basin.

·Facilitate and foster cooperative planning and coordinated
management of the region’s water and related land resources.

·Create opportunities and means for the states and federal
agencies responsible for management of water resources in the Upper
Mississippi River Basin to exchange information.

·Develop regional positions on river resource issues and
serve as an advocate of the basin states’ collective interests before
Congress and the federal agencies.

The Upper Mississippi River Basin Association
engages in the discussion, evaluation, and study of a variety of topics,
ranging from policy and budget matters to specific resource management
concerns.Over the years,
the Association has addressed a wide range of issues including:nonpoint pollution, water quality planning and management,
interbasin diversions, cost-sharing strategies, water project financing,
sediment and erosion, hazardous spills, toxic pollution, habitat
restoration, navigation capacity, channel maintenance, flood response
and recovery, floodplain management, wetland protection, hydropower
development and licensing, and drought planning.